Synergistic phenolic extraction from Schinus molle–tomato binary mixture with RSM optimisation and DPPH antioxidant activity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Synthetic antioxidants BHT and BHA face increasing regulatory scrutiny due to potential carcinogenic effects, necessitating the development of safer plant-based alternatives. Despite individual studies on Schinus molle L. and tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), no prior study has investigated their binary combination for synergistic phenolic extraction. This study optimised phenolic antioxidant extraction from a Schinus molle –tomato binary mixture using response surface methodology (RSM). A face-centered central composite design examined temperature (25–60 °C), time (40–180 min), and fruit ratio (0:100 to 100:0 w/w) across 20 experimental runs. The RSM model (R 2 = 0.9896) predicted maximum yield of 50.07% at 55 °C, 110–132 min, and 47.6:52.4 w/w ratio, experimentally validated at 49.71 ± 0.10% (MAPE = 0.71%). The optimised extract yielded IC₅₀ = 0.428 mg/mL, total phenolics of 2.4–154 mg GAE/g and total flavonoids of 66–284 mg QE/g. The 50:50 binary mixture outperformed individual fruit extractions by up to 14%, attributable to complementary pH effects and enhanced mass transfer. These findings present the validated, protocol for synergistic natural antioxidant extraction from the S. molle –tomato system.
Source: Discover Food
Language: English
Subfield: Biochemistry (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,590
OpenAlex ID: W7224102448